Bernard Shaw and China: Cross-Cultural Encounters

Bernard Shaw traveled to China in three respects: publication of his work, theater production of it, and his actual passage in 1933. The first Chinese performances of Shaw’s plays have long been regarded as failures, but Kay Li presents evidence from correspondence and from rare newspaper reports that reveals these early productions could be regarded as qualified successes and brave endeavors.

A native Chinese speaker, Li examines the interactions between Shaw and his Chinese audience, readers, and translators and shows how young Chinese intellectuals of the time made use of the performances to help shape Chinese identity. Shaw’s work and his visit itself-the presence of an esteemed Nobel laureate-allowed them to advance the cause of Chinese nationalism, advocate for the modernization of society, and push China closer to the main currents of world culture.